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Dando accused 'paid £55 for gun' Dando accused 'paid £55 for gun'
(about 6 hours later)
The man accused of killing television presenter Jill Dando admitted buying a gun for £55, a jury has heard.The man accused of killing television presenter Jill Dando admitted buying a gun for £55, a jury has heard.
In a police interview shortly after his May 2000 arrest, Barry George had said he had bought a Bruni 8mm blank-firing automatic weapon, the court heard.In a police interview shortly after his May 2000 arrest, Barry George had said he had bought a Bruni 8mm blank-firing automatic weapon, the court heard.
But he had denied the gun had been modified to fire live rounds. "I can state categorically that it does not fire anything out," he told officers.But he had denied the gun had been modified to fire live rounds. "I can state categorically that it does not fire anything out," he told officers.
Mr George, 48, denies murdering the Crimewatch presenter on 26 April 1999.Mr George, 48, denies murdering the Crimewatch presenter on 26 April 1999.
Earlier, the jury heard that Mr George had been told by police his gun was of the kind that could have been used to kill Miss Dando, 37, on her doorstep.Earlier, the jury heard that Mr George had been told by police his gun was of the kind that could have been used to kill Miss Dando, 37, on her doorstep.
Starting pistolStarting pistol
During the interview, carried out at Hammersmith police station, Mr George had said he had written an entry in a notebook about a "GI 45 8mm blank firing government automatic", the jury heard.During the interview, carried out at Hammersmith police station, Mr George had said he had written an entry in a notebook about a "GI 45 8mm blank firing government automatic", the jury heard.
An officer had asked him: "The price, £55, is noted. Is that the price that you paid for the gun?"An officer had asked him: "The price, £55, is noted. Is that the price that you paid for the gun?"
Mr George had replied: "It was in and around that price."Mr George had replied: "It was in and around that price."
He had said he had thought he had bought the gun by mail order from a shop in Sussex, but had added he had not fired a gun of any sort for 10 years since letting off a starting pistol at a friend's flat.He had said he had thought he had bought the gun by mail order from a shop in Sussex, but had added he had not fired a gun of any sort for 10 years since letting off a starting pistol at a friend's flat.
The defendant had also been shown a photograph of himself wearing a gas mask and holding the weapon, the jury heard.The defendant had also been shown a photograph of himself wearing a gas mask and holding the weapon, the jury heard.
Mr George sees a photo of himself with a gun and says he does not know where it is
He had been asked by police: "Is that your gun?"He had been asked by police: "Is that your gun?"
He had replied: "It's very difficult from the angle, sir, but I believe it to be the replica gun that I had, yes Sir."He had replied: "It's very difficult from the angle, sir, but I believe it to be the replica gun that I had, yes Sir."
Prosecutors say the spring of the gun is exposed in the picture, proving it had been modified.Prosecutors say the spring of the gun is exposed in the picture, proving it had been modified.
But Mr George had said: "I believe there was a spring type of thing, just for the thing to slide back, but I can state categorically that it does not fire anything out," the jury heard.But Mr George had said: "I believe there was a spring type of thing, just for the thing to slide back, but I can state categorically that it does not fire anything out," the jury heard.
Earlier, jurors saw the defendant deny knowing the name of the road in which Miss Dando lived despite having visited a doctor's surgery four doors away from her home three years before the killing.Earlier, jurors saw the defendant deny knowing the name of the road in which Miss Dando lived despite having visited a doctor's surgery four doors away from her home three years before the killing.
He agreed that a photograph found among thousands of undeveloped pictures of women in his flat had been taken outside the surgery.He agreed that a photograph found among thousands of undeveloped pictures of women in his flat had been taken outside the surgery.
Mr George, of Fulham, is being retried, having first faced trial for the killing in 2001.Mr George, of Fulham, is being retried, having first faced trial for the killing in 2001.